Filling and dosing apparatus for viscous substances

ABSTRACT

A dosing-and filling-device for viscous and/or stringy liquids having a liquid return suction device in a filling nozzle, which comprises a housing having a storage chamber, at least one dosing chamber and formed with a slide bore in operative communication with the storage chamber and the dosing chamber. A control slide is disposed in said bore, and a filling nozzle is formed integrally with the control slide and displaceable in the bore in the housing. A control device moves upwardly and downwardly the control slide with the filling nozzle in a cycle and is designed such, that in an upper position thereof a communication is provided between the storage chamber for the liquid and the dosing chamber and in a lower position a communication is provided between the dosing chamber and the filling nozzle. At least a portion of the control slide is in the form of a lower control piston having a larger diameter than that of the filling nozzle and is complementary to the bore and disposed above the filling nozzle, thereby causing a return suction of a portion of the liquid into the filling nozzle during an upward stroke of the latter.

United States Patent [191 Donnet June 18, 1974 1 1 F ILLINC AND DOSING APPARATUS FOR VISCOUS SUBSTANCES [75] Inventor: Henri Donnet, Falaise, France 22 Filed: June 9, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 261,401

[30] a 'Foreign Application Priority Data June 9, 1971 Germany 7122412 July 9, 1971 Germany 2134207 52 us. CL... 141/1 1 7,222/409 [51] Int. Cl B65b 3/32 [58] Field of Search 141/115, 116, 117; 222/409, 251, 252, 532; 53/191 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,107,987 2/1938 Johnson 141/116 X 2,276,157 3/1942 Chapman 141/116 2,706,950 4/1955 Becker 222/409 X 2,839,226 6/1958 Ross 141/117 X- 2,888,046 5/1959 Piazze et a1..,. 141/117 3,351,250 11/1967 West....- .1 l4l/l 17 3,426,945 2/1969 Harriman..; 141/117 X 11/1962 Germanyw .1141/116 Primary Examiner-Leon G,. Machlin [57] ABSTRACT A dosing-and filling-device for viscous and/or stringy liquids'having a liquid return suction device in a filling nozzle, which comprises a housing having a storage imrt LQndQ 1 mb r and fo e t a slide bore in operative communication with the storage chamber and the dosing chamber. A control slide is disposed in said bore, and a filling nozzle is formed gitegrally with the gontrol slide and displaceable in the bore in the housing. A control device moves upwardly and downwardly the control slide with the filling nozz'le in a cycle and is designed such, that in an upper position thereof a communication is provided between the storage chamber for the liquid and the dosing chamber and in a lower position a communication is provided between the dosing chamber and the filling nozzle. At least a portion of the control slide is in the form of a lower control piston having a larger diameter than that of the filling nozzle and is complementary to the bore and disposed above the filling nozzle, thereby causing a return suction of a portion of the liquid into the filling nozzle during an upward stroke of the latter.

4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 1 FILLING AND'DOSING APPARATUS FOR VISCOUS' SUBSTANCES The present invention relates to a filling and dosingdevice for viscous and/or stringy liquids, as, by example, molten cheese or honey.

In order to dose and fill exactly and' clean molten cheese or honey or other similar liquids, at first the filling nozzles must be inserted as deep as possible in the scopically or the like being telescopic and the movement is controlled such, that upon lowering of the nozzle into the vessel, the two parts slide together and upon terminationof the filling, during'pulling out of the nozzle, move again apart. in this manner, a return suction of the liquid into the nozzle is obtained and thereby a separation of the thread. In this known device, however, the nozzle is disposed in a particular holder directly above the vessels to be filled, and is connected, under circumstances alsoin groups, and over hoses with a three-way cock, which provides a connection in a cycle between the storage container and the dosing piston and between the dosing piston and the filling nozzle. By this arrangement, different difficulties occur thereby. By the hose connections, which are not easily to be isolated, a recognizable cooling of the filling material occurs and an increase ofzthe tenacity, which brings aboutdifficulties during the dosing.v The dosing is in addition not exact, due to the fact, that the long conduits assume by their elasticity a part of'the filling pressure and create a dead space. The known device has also a relatively great space requirement, in particular in case of use of thick-walled hoses, which resist the occurring pressures and temperatures and has a low working speed by the different drives for the three-way cock, for the up and down movement of the telescope nozzle and for the dosing piston. Finally, it has been determined, that the known device lends itself with some difficulty for cleaning.- 1

It is one object of the present invention, to provide a fillingand dosing-device for viscous and/or stringy liquids, which avoids the mentioned drawbacks of the known devices and alsoto provide a compact device, which is well suitable for theprovided purpose.

It is another object of the present invention, to provide a dosing-and filling-device for viscous and/or stringy liquids having a liquid return suction device in a filling nozzle, comprising a housing having a storage chamber, at least one dosing chamber and formed with v a slide bore in operative communication with the storage chamber and the at least one dosing chamber, a control slide disposed in the bore, a filling nozzle is formed integrally with the control slide and displaceable in the bore in the housing, a control means for moving upwardly and downwardly the control slide with the filling-nozzle in a cycle and being designed such that in an upper position thereof a communication being provided between the storage chamber for the liquid and the at least one dosing chamber and in a lower position a communication being provided between the dosing chamber and the filling nozzle, and at least a portion of the control slide being in form of a lower control piston having a larger diameter than that of the filling nozzle and complementary to the bore and disposed above the filling nozzle, thereby causing a return suction of a portion of the liquid intothe filling nozzle during an upward stroke of the latter. by means of an intermediate member of smallerdiameter and are displaceably arranged in boresin the housing and that the length of the intermediate member is dimensioned such, that the pistons project in their end positions from the corresponding bores;

-b. That the filling nozzle has a longitudinal bore, which is in communication with an annular space below the bore for the control piston by means of across-bore and that the annular space is in connection about the intermediate member by a bore with the dosing chamber;

c. That a heat insulated storage space is disposed about the housing and a pressure storage piston and a pressure control valve is provided in this storage space, whereby the housing serves as carrier for a group of filling nozzles with their control pistons and dosing pistons, whichare operated only by one control device.

By the arrangement, in accordance with the present invention, a greater working speed of the device is obtained, since the dosing, filling and return-sucking are obtained only by the up and down movement of the filling nozzle, which is coupled with the control slide, whereby only one single control device is necessary for the operation of the control slide and of the filling nozzle.

Furthermore, an increased exactness in the dosing is obtained, such, that the dosing-device is arranged in a stiff housing, which is very well heat-insulated and whichcan hardly be elastically deformed.

Finally, it is also very simple in the device, in accordance with the present invention, to perform a passage cleaning, without demounting or disassembling the device, since mon-accessible angles'nor dead spaces are present.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention, which is shown by example only, will, be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the only FIGURE, comprising a sectional elevation of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention, with sections not all on the same plane, discloses in the left half a device in the position, which corresponds with the filling procedure, and the mirror-like right half discloses a filling nozzle with a control slide in the upper position.

Referring now to the drawing, the fillingand dosing device comprises a housing 1, which is equipped with bores 1a for the dosing piston 6 and a connection bore lb between the dosing chamber and an annular space M, which is disposed between the bores 10 and lie for the control pistons 8b and 8d. The control piston 8b has a collar 8a, as well as a sealing ring and is separated by an intermediate member 8 from the control piston 8d, which is likewise equipped with a sealing ring 8f, the length of the intermediate member 8 being dimensioned such, that the controlpiston 8d projects in the lower end position from its bore 1e and thereby opens a connection between the dosing chamber la and the bore 8i of the filling nozzle 8g via the cross bores 8h, the annular space 1 f and the bore 1e for the control piston 8d. The filling nozzle 8g is tightly guided in the end portion 111 by means of the annular sealing 8k. I

The up and down movement of the filling nozzle and of the control pistons is obtained by means of the control device 9 with the intermediate arrangement of a yoke 10. 1

In the position shown in the drawing on the left side thereof, the filling of the vessel 11 has just been completed and a dosed quantity 7a of the filling material is disposed in the vessel. A dosing piston 6 occupies thus its lower position. It is brought into this position by means of a drive 12 with the intermediate arrangement of a piston rod 6b or by a spring force. The dosing piston 6 is equipped with two sealings 6a.

The filling material 7 is brought into the storage space 2 by the opening 5, which storage space 2 is built up by means of an insulating layer 4 and an outer jacket 3 in insulating manner. The storage space 2 has a pressure storage piston 18, which is equipped with-sealing rings 18a and slides in the cylinder 17. The cylinder 17 is closed by a cover 19 and is subjected to pressurized air by means of a connection branch 20. In consequence piston 18 is pushed upwardly by the material 7 during the filling process when the filling nozzle is in its lower position and is pushed downwards by the compressed air in cylinder 17 when the filling nozzle is in its upper position, thus feeding pump, which brings the filling material into the storage space, does not have to feed the maximum feeding quantity, required during the filling process but, rather need only supply the device with the average quantity, the intermittant delivery peaks being delivered by the pressurized storage pistons. The pumping feeding pressure is maintained constant by means of a pressure regulating valve, which comprises of a stepped piston 23 which slides in a cylinder 22 and is subjected at its upper side 23b to pressurized air via the connection branch 20. The sealing takes place by means of the sealing rings 230, while the lower edge of the piston 23a controls the return flow into the branch 21. In a variation of the above-stated design, the pressure storage pistons 18 and the stepped piston 23 can also be subjected to weights or particular pressure units instead of introducing compressed air directly into cylinder 17.

On the right side of the drawing are disposed the filling nozzle and the control pistons in the upper position.

By this arrangement'a connection between the storage space 2 and the dosing space 1a is provided, since a control piston 8b projects from its bore 10 and the dosing piston 6 is moved into its upper position, or either by being pushed by the drive 12. By the upward movement of the filling nozzle with the dosing piston in addition, a pressure below atmospheric pressure (i.e., a partial vacuum) is created in the annular chamber 1f,

which causes the liquid to be sucked back into the filling nozzle, so that the thread or strand of material is separated. In order to simplify the moving in and out of the control pistons 8b and 8d in the bores, the entrances are inclined or rounded, respectively. It is to be remarked, that by the compact structure of the individual parts a grouping of a plurality of filling nozzles with their control pistons can be provided in one housing, whereby always one dosing piston is coordinated to each filling nozzle, yet an entire group of filling nozzles or the corresponding group of the dosing pistons, respectively, are operated by means of one control device. In this manner the output or performance of the device can be adjusted easily to the required conditrons.

All features and indications disposed above in particular the spatial configuration are essential for the present invention as much as they are known individually or in combination as new in relation to the status of the prior art.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A dosing and filling-device for viscous and/0r stringy liquids having a liquid return suction device in a filling nozzle, comprising a housing having a storage chamber, at least one dosing chamber and formed with a slide bore in operative communication with said storage chamber and said at least one dosing chamber,

a control slide disposed in said bore,

a filling nozzle formed integrally with said control slide and displaceable in said bore in said housing,

a control means for moving upwardly and downwardly said control slide with said filling nozzle in a cycle and being designed such, that in an upper position thereof a communication being provided between said storage chamber for the liquid and said at least one dosing chamber and in a lower position a communication being provided between said dosing chamber and said filling nozzle, and at least a portion of said control slide being in form of a lower control piston having a larger diameter than that of said filling nozzle and complementary to said bore and disposed above said filling nozzle thereby causing a return suction of a portion of the liquid into said filling nozzle during an upward stroke of the latter.

2. The dosingand filling-device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filling nozzle is axially aligned with said control slide, said control slide further includes an upper control piston, said pistons of equal diameter complementary to said bore and disposed axially relative to each other, said control slide further including an intermediate portion of a diameter smaller than that of said pistons and connected to and between said pistons, said bore displaceably receiving said control slide including said intermediate portion and said pistons, and the length of said intermediate portion is dimensioned such that said upper and said lower pistons respectively project in each of said upper and lower positions respectively from said bore. 3. The dosingand fiIling deVice, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said filling nozzle has a longitudinal bore therethrough and a cross bore communicating said longitudinal bore with an enlarged annular chamber portion of said slide bore at a lower portion of the latter, and said housing defines a dosing bore which communicates said annular chamber with said dosing chamber about said intermediate portion.

Y 6 4. The dosingand filling-device, as set forth in claim pistons thereof which are operated jointly by one 1, wherein said control means, said storage chamber is heat-insulated, a dosing piston operatively disposed in each of a plua pressure storage piston and a pressure control valve rality of said dosing chambers,

provided insaid storage chambenand 5 a single dosing piston drive means jointly operating said housingserves as carrier for a plurality of said said dosing pistons.

filling nozzles with corresponding of said control 

1. A dosing- and filling-device for viscous and/or stringy liquids having a liquid return suction device in a filling nozzle, comprising a housing having a storage chamber, at least one dosing chamber and formed with a slide bore in operative communication with said storage chamber and said at least one dosing chamber, a control slide disposed in said bore, a filling nozzle formed integrally with said control slide and displaceable in said bore in said housing, a control means for moving upwardly and downwardly said control slide with said filling nozzle in a cycle and being designed such, that in an upper position thereof a communication being provided between said storage chamber for the liquid and said at least one dosing chamber and in a lower position a communication being provided between said dosing chamber and said filling nozzle, and at least a portion of said control slide being in form of a lower control piston having a larger diameter than that of said filling nozzle and complementary to said bore and disposed above said filling nozzle thereby causing a return suction of a portion of the liquid into said filling nozzle during an upward stroke of the latter.
 2. The dosing- and filling-device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filling nozzle is axially aligned with said control slide, said control slide further includes an upper control piston, said pistons of equal diameter complementary to said bore and disposed axially relative to each other, said control slide further including an intermediate portion of a diameter smaller than that of said pistons and connected to and between said pistons, said bore displaceably receiving said control slide including said intermediate portion and said pistons, and the length of said intermediate portion is dimensioned such that said upper and said lower pistons respectively project in each of said upper and lower positions respectively from said bore.
 3. The dosing- and filling-device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said filling nozzle has a longitudinal bore therethrough and a cross bore communicating said longitudinal bore with an enlarged annular chamber portion of said slide bore at a lower portion of the latter, and said housing defines a dosing bore which communicates said annular chamber with said dosing chamber about said intermediate portion.
 4. The dosing- and filling-device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage chamber is heat-insulated, a pressure storage piston and a pressure control valve provided in said storage chamber, and said housing serves as carrier for a plurality of said filling nozzles with corresponding of said control pistons thereof which are operated jointly by one said control means, a dosing piston operatively disposed in each of a plurality of said dosing chambers, a single dosing piston drive means jointly operating said dosing pistons. 